National Museum of Singapore

Original Building

Building, 1887

The front block of the museum building dates back to 1887. It features an elegant neo-Palladian design, a European style of architecture characterised by a highly symmetrical façade and the use of pediments above windows.

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Deepavali Celebrations with the National Museum

11 Oct 2021 - 31 Oct 2021
Various Venues,
Various Timings
Varies with Programmes
Ignite all five of your senses and immerse yourselves in the festive mood of Deepavali!

LOOK for this festive sweet in our gallery and share with us a memory of your celebrations to receive a specially-illustrated portrait of yourself!

Get in TOUCH with your artistic side in creating your own diya (tealight candle holder) as a keepsake.

Enjoy a fascinating Odissi dance performance by Soo Mei Fei and HEAR her tell a story of how light triumphs over darkness.

SMELL the aroma as second-generation business Jeya Spices speaks about custom-blended spice mixes, and be surprised by the common ingredients shared in preparing festive favourites across the different ethnic festivals.

Have fun creating laddu, a traditional sweet enjoyed during Deepavali and TASTE your creation when you get home!

When planning your visit, please ensure that everyone is in good health and in groups of two. Please keep your mask on at all times. Details on Safe Management Measures for each programme can be found on their respective registration pages.

Deepavali

LOOK – We Celebrate: Deepavali [FULL]
30 Oct | 11am – 6pm
Level 2, space next to Glass Rotunda
Free

Go on a mini hunt around the museum's Level 2 galleries and LOOK for this special Deepavali sweet. Share with us a memory of meeting and gathering with friends and family during your festive celebrations, and receive a specially-illustrated portrait of yourself in a traditional Indian costume!

Suitable for participants aged 13 and above. Please remember to maintain safe distancing and keep your masks on at all times.

Visit https://nmscelebdeepavali.peatix.com/ to register now!

Diya Painting

TOUCH - Diya Painting
30 Oct | 11am – 6pm
Glass Atrium (Level 2)
$5/pair

During the festival of lights, diyas (tealight candle holder) are a familiar sight in the homes of celebrants. Express your creativity and get in TOUCH with your artistic selves by painting your own diya.

Limited spaces available. Each ticket entitles one pair of participants to a set of craft materials. Please ensure that social distancing and SMM are observed at all times. Participants are reminded to keep their masks on during the session.

Visit https://nmsdiyapainting.peatix.com/ to register now!

Laddu making workshop

TASTE – Laddu Making Workshop [SOLD OUT]
30 Oct | 11am – 12pm
G10 (Level 1)
$15/pair

This Deepavali, join The Little Things on a culinary adventure to learn how to make laddu, a traditional Indian sweet, topped off with a chocolate twist! Experience hands-on fun while learning more about the festival of lights, and how Singapore came to be a melting pot of cultures – especially in terms of our cuisine! You can even bring home your own set of laddu at the end of the workshop.

Limited spaces available. Each ticket entitles each pair to a set of ingredients. Please ensure that social distancing and SMM is observed at all times. Participants are reminded not to interact or approach the performer and to keep their mask on during the programme.

Visit https://nmsladdu.peatix.com/ to register now!

LSOH Jeya spices

SMELL − A Lighter Side of History: A DeLIGHTful Deepavali with Jeya Spices [SOLD OUT]
30 Oct | 3 – 4.30pm
G10 (Level 1)
$28/pax or $50/pair

Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a major cultural festival in Singapore that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. During this festive season, families transform their homes into beacons of light, buy new clothes and decorate their doorways with rangoli (intricate patterns made from coloured rice powder or rice grains).

Food is also an important part of Deepavali and homes are often filled with the fragrance of spices as families prepare a wide variety of dishes to feast on.

In this special programme, Jeya from Jeya Spices will be sharing his memories of celebrating Deepavali with his family, his journey to becoming a ‘spice man’, and the similarities and differences between the spices used to flavour dishes from the various ethnic groups. Participants will even get to learn how to make their own custom spice blend!

Limited spaces available. Price includes presentation by Jeya Spices and spice mixing workshop. Suitable for participants aged 13 and above. Please ensure that social distancing and SMM are observed at all times. No food consumption or tasting is allowed and participants are to remain seated and wear their masks during the workshop.

Visit https://nmsdelightful.peatix.com/ to register now!

Odissi

HEAR – Odissi: A Tale of Light over Darkness [On-site Performance is FULL]
30 Oct | 4.30 – 5.30pm
Gallery Theatre | Also on NMS Facebook Livestream
Free

Watch this captivating performance by Soo Mei Fei, who first picked up classical Indian dance in secondary school. Overcoming cultural barriers, she fell in love with this art form and has continued her interest until today.

Catch her interpretation of an Odissi performance called Dashavatar and HEAR two different folktales relating to Deepavali. From Northern India is a story of how Rama’s return to Ayodhya sparks a celebration, while its Southern counterpart is an account of Krishna’s victory over Narakusara, both of which feature the triumph of light over darkness.

Limited spaces available onsite. Please ensure that social distancing and SMM is observed at all times. Participants are reminded not to interact or approach the performer during the programme and to wear a mask at all times.

Visit https://nmsodissi.peatix.com/ to register now! [FULL]

This programme will be livestreamed concurrently on the NMS Facebook page. Bookmark the event here!

Family Time

Visit our permanent galleries with your little ones and play spot-the-artefact! Our colourful Early Learning Resources introduce pre-schoolers to our artefacts according to the themes of Numbers, Colours, and ABCs. Available at $8 per set from the Museum Label shop. For more children's activity booklets, click here.

Museum guide

Download our museum guide (English, Chinese, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil) to find out about the many treasures in our various galleries. In this guide, you will also find the floor plan for easier navigation. Enjoy your visit!